This week in Christian history: ‘Jesus Revolution’ leader dies, Jan Hus excommunicated

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, March 12, 2023

Jan Hus, Prague punished by Catholic Church – March 15, 1411

15th century Catholic Church reformer Jan Hus. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when Jan Hus and the city of Prague were punished by the Roman Catholic Church over the former’s efforts to reform the prominent religious institution.

The Catholic Church excommunicated Hus for his reforms, considering them heretical, while also placing Prague under interdict, which meant the population would be deprived of sacraments.

The punishments had been ordered the month before. However, they were not publicized until March 15. Additional pressure on the part of the Catholic Church eventually led to Hus leaving Prague.

“While in exile, Hus wrote letters and books. He updated the old Bohemian Bible and declared Scripture the sole standard by which the church should judge religious truth,” according to the Christian History Institute.

“He also compared the popes to anti-Christ, opposed indulgences, denied the validity of absolution from a wicked priest, scorned image worship, spurned masses for the dead, disputed purgatory, and rejected auricular confession (that is, confession out loud to a priest).”